RSS Content Feed

The School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University invites applications for a Biodiversity Informatician. This is an academic, non-tenure track faculty research associate appointment.

Arizona State University is a dynamic, progressive university dedicated to interdisciplinary collaborations, to rethinking university education, and to integrating excellence in both research and teaching. The School of Life Sciences (SOLS) at Arizona State University's Tempe campus is committed to strengthening its impact in the fields of biodiversity informatics research and virtual collections management. SOLS maintains organismal collections totalling more than 1.5 million preserved specimens, and has played an instrumental role in creating the Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet) which serves more than 2 million records and 100,000 images on-line.

The successful candidate will work in close collaboration with SOLS curators, collection managers, affiliated researchers and students to advise, develop, and implement database-driven web applications aimed at the electronic dissemination of biological specimen and observation records. Focal areas include the future development of SEINet and its underlying software platform Symbiota, amalgamation and synthesis of all SOLS virtual collections into a unified web portal, participation in novel biodiversity informatics research projects, and integration with other initiatives and services in this dynamic field (e.g. CAP-LTER, Complexity of Life, Global Names, GBIF, iDigBio). The selected candidate will assume co-leadership in developing successful externally funded informatics projects and will serve as liaison between ASU collections researchers and students, network administrators and other ASU information technology support staff. Additional responsibilities may include participation in the creation and implementation of a new teaching curriculum in the field of biodiversity informatics.

Candidates must have an advanced degree (M.Sc. or higher) in Biology or Computer Science, minimally three years of experience in biodiversity informatics research and software development, and a strong familiarity with biocollections data management (e.g. DarwinCore) and contemporary nomenclatural and taxonomic practices and standards (e.g. TDWG). Desired qualifications include participation in recent federally funded research projects in this field (NSF-ADBC program, iDigBio, GBIF, etc.), extensive experience with programming languages and database-driven web application development, and specifically, skills in database design and management such as AJAX, CMS (e.g. Drupal), HTML 5, CSS, SQL, XML, network and server administration and scripting languages (Java, JavaScript, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby), familiarity with Web 2.0 programming technologies, high adaptability to meet new challenges, and evidence of strong verbal and written communication skills, including grantspersonship.

Salary will be negotiable, depending on qualifications. To apply, send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and up to three other items of choice that represent the ability to work as biodiversity informatician to Anna Fields, attn: Biodiversity Informatician Search Committee, School of Life Sciences, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, with electronic applications sent as PDF files to solsfacultysearch3@asu.edu preferred (mailto:solsfacultysearch3@asu.edu). The initial closing date for receipt of complete applications is October 14, 2012. For additional information, please feel free to contact Nico Franz (nico.franz@asu.edu) or Les Landrum (les.landrum@asu.edu). A background check is required for employment at Arizona State University, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to excellence through diversity. We especially encourage women and minorities to apply (see https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/). For additional information on the School of Life Sciences, please visit http://sols.asu.edu.

This announcement is also available as a PDF at http://sols.asu.edu/employment/pdfs/f12_bio_info_research_associate.pdf

Submitted by Nico Franz. http://franz.lab.asu.edu/